Twitter is like a window into the soul of America. It shows us faster and more accurately what is on our collective minds than any other medium currently in use. So it was only a matter of time, in a bad economy and a worse job market, that Twitter would be flooded with both job seekers and job offerers. The way they find each other is through certain key hashtags, the best of which we have laid out for you to help you in your quest for employment. Some of these will give you broad search results and take a while to sift through, but let’s face it — you have lots of free time.
50 Hottest Twitter Hashtags For Job Seekers
Twitter is like a window into the soul of America. It shows us faster and more accurately what is on our collective minds than any other medium currently in use. So it was only a matter of time, in a bad economy and a worse job market, that Twitter would be flooded with both job seekers and job offerers. The way they find each other is through certain key hashtags, the best of which we have laid out for you to help you in your quest for employment. Some of these will give you broad search results and take a while to sift through, but let’s face it — you have lots of free time.
These are the tags to plug into Twitter’s search engine to connect you with companies with opening.Should I put this on my résumé?
By Debra Auerbach
Are you a 5-foot-7 woman who has three dogs, loves skydiving and makes a killer margarita? Unless you're applying for a job as a dog walker, skydiving instructor or bartender, these details do not belong on your résumé.
Résumés should only include information that is relevant to the position for which you're applying, was requested by the employer or makes it easy for them to contact you. Anything superfluous -- hobbies and personal attributes for example -- should not be shared.
Yet it's not always easy to decide what should stay and what should go. While every situation is unique, and it's important to take the job and employer requirements into account, there are some general rules for what does and doesn't have a place on your résumé. Here is some advice on seven common résumé question marks:
1. Home address: While not everyone is comfortable with sharing such private information, career coach Lavie Margolin recommends including your address. "Not listing your address on your résumé will make things more challenging for you," Margolin says. "It will be an immediate question mark for employers as to why there is no address listed. They may even perceive it as you not living near the position you are applying for." Margolin says that while you can still get a job without sharing your address, you're also more likely to be eliminated for not including it. Just make sure that you've done your research on the company to ensure its legitimacy before sharing any contact information.
2. Reference information: "Never include reference information; you don't want your references being bothered by employers, especially if you don't know that you want the job," says Bruce Hurwitz, president and CEO of Hurwitz Strategic Staffing. "Once there is mutual interest, then provide the references." And remember: Always speak to your references first before sharing their details with prospective companies.
3. A disability: "There is a common and not unfounded fear that revealing a disability on the résumé may lead to not being selected for a position, which makes the disclosure choice a difficult one," says Barbara Otto, executive director of Think Beyond the Label, a national collaborative aimed at increasing employment among people with disabilities. "A résumé is a springboard for you to give details about your skills, experience and the unique perspectives you bring to the table. You should not explicitly state your disability, but you can weave in your professional experience and hobbies that may be disability-related, such as volunteer work or awards received. Then in the interview you can use these achievements to break the ice about your disability if you choose to."
4. Grade point average: It's great if you graduated from college with a 4.0, but if you did so 10 years ago, it's probably time to remove your GPA from your résumé. "A person's GPA would normally only be listed on the résumé if [he] recently graduated from college," Margolin says. "If the GPA is below a 3.0, it is usually best to leave it off. Feel free to keep on any special academic status or awards you may have achieved such as magna cum laude." The exception? Some companies may request a GPA, so read the application before removing it. "In certain circumstances, a GPA would remain on longer ... some job listings require a certain GPA minimum."
Tips 5 - 7 and complete article
Are you a 5-foot-7 woman who has three dogs, loves skydiving and makes a killer margarita? Unless you're applying for a job as a dog walker, skydiving instructor or bartender, these details do not belong on your résumé.
Résumés should only include information that is relevant to the position for which you're applying, was requested by the employer or makes it easy for them to contact you. Anything superfluous -- hobbies and personal attributes for example -- should not be shared.
Yet it's not always easy to decide what should stay and what should go. While every situation is unique, and it's important to take the job and employer requirements into account, there are some general rules for what does and doesn't have a place on your résumé. Here is some advice on seven common résumé question marks:
1. Home address: While not everyone is comfortable with sharing such private information, career coach Lavie Margolin recommends including your address. "Not listing your address on your résumé will make things more challenging for you," Margolin says. "It will be an immediate question mark for employers as to why there is no address listed. They may even perceive it as you not living near the position you are applying for." Margolin says that while you can still get a job without sharing your address, you're also more likely to be eliminated for not including it. Just make sure that you've done your research on the company to ensure its legitimacy before sharing any contact information.
2. Reference information: "Never include reference information; you don't want your references being bothered by employers, especially if you don't know that you want the job," says Bruce Hurwitz, president and CEO of Hurwitz Strategic Staffing. "Once there is mutual interest, then provide the references." And remember: Always speak to your references first before sharing their details with prospective companies.
3. A disability: "There is a common and not unfounded fear that revealing a disability on the résumé may lead to not being selected for a position, which makes the disclosure choice a difficult one," says Barbara Otto, executive director of Think Beyond the Label, a national collaborative aimed at increasing employment among people with disabilities. "A résumé is a springboard for you to give details about your skills, experience and the unique perspectives you bring to the table. You should not explicitly state your disability, but you can weave in your professional experience and hobbies that may be disability-related, such as volunteer work or awards received. Then in the interview you can use these achievements to break the ice about your disability if you choose to."
4. Grade point average: It's great if you graduated from college with a 4.0, but if you did so 10 years ago, it's probably time to remove your GPA from your résumé. "A person's GPA would normally only be listed on the résumé if [he] recently graduated from college," Margolin says. "If the GPA is below a 3.0, it is usually best to leave it off. Feel free to keep on any special academic status or awards you may have achieved such as magna cum laude." The exception? Some companies may request a GPA, so read the application before removing it. "In certain circumstances, a GPA would remain on longer ... some job listings require a certain GPA minimum."
Tips 5 - 7 and complete article
The Job Search Never Ends
by
For the many job seekers who have recently landed a job…CONGRATULATIONS- it isn’t over though. The economy is unstable still. Employer loyalty is dead. You never want to be caught flat footed again. In order for you to feel like you have control over your career, you need to constantly keep your eyes open for you next great gig!
I realize most of you do not want to hear this, nor will you probably read this. Denial is dangerous and hope is not a strategy. One of the most sought-after job qualities issecurity. I am afraid to tell you this, but…most jobs no longer offer this benefit. However, you can take control by implementing some or all of these suggestions.
Monitor Job Postings on Job Boards
The easiest method of monitoring job postings to create alerts via the job boards. Do this. However, before you invest time applying for that job, contact someone you know inside the company and ask for an update on the status of the job.
Keep In Contact with People You Met
While you were active in your job search, you undoubtedly met many new people. Set up a system to keep in contact with the most influential folks. You can invite key people for coffee to catch up, shoot them an email, invite them to an event, forward them an interesting article or book review, congratulate them on their success or their company’s success. Look for ways to keep in touch and do this regularly. Does it take time? Absolutely. But keeping your network alive is crucial in developing career insurance.
Hopefully you added them to LinkedIn because this can make it easier to implement your system. Remember, not everyone uses LinkedIn regularly or is as competent as you are in using it. It may not be a primary source for their communication.
Don’t forget to include:
- The people you interviewed with who turned you down
- Recruiters
- Past colleagues
Whatever you do, continue to network!
Join a Professional Association
Now that you are employed, you have more money. Invest in yourself and your professional development by joining a professional association in your field. Your new employer may even offer to cover that membership. Let them know you are joining and ask if they may be willing to pay for your membership. (You will never know unless you ask.) Be sure to put your request in terms that would benefit your employer such as: it will provide good PR for the company, you’ll be able to bring back new ideas and information, you’ll understand what the competition is doing, etc.
5 Job Hunting Tips from Batman
By Josh Tolan
If there’s one thing the caped crusader knows, it’s how to get a job done. So why not turn to Batman for some helpful job hunting tips? After all, if he can clean up the streets of Gotham, cleaning up a resume should be no problem.
He’s certainly been cleaning up at the box office. The Dark Knight Rises, director Christopher Nolan’s final chapter in his Batman trilogy, earned a staggering 160 million over its opening weekend. The film already beat the impressive 158 million record its predecessor The Dark Knight set back in 2008.
It might seem silly, but superheroes can tell us a lot about perseverance in the face of tough obstacles. With unemployment holding steady at 8.2 percent and more job seekers flooding the applicant pool for every open position, some superheroics might be necessary. Here are some job hunting tips we can take from the Batman himself courtesy of The Dark Knight Rises (non-spoilery of course!):
Never Give Up
As The Dark Knight Rises begins, it’s eight years since Batman has gone out of commission after the events of The Dark Knight. After a truly terrible run of luck with Harvey Dent and the Joker, millionaire Bruce Wayne hung up his bat cowl for good to become a recluse.
With the high rate of unemployment and the dismal June jobs report, it would be easy to do the same when it comes to your job search. It might seem like hope is lost and you’re sending out resumes into a void. Just because you’re disheartened, however, doesn’t mean there isn’t a perfect job out there for you. Just like Bruce Wayne never gave up on the city of Gotham, you can’t give up on your job search.
Don’t Turn Your Back On Your Network
Once Bruce Wayne hung up his superhero suit, he also disconnected from his friends. Commissioner Gordon and his colleagues at Wayne Enterprises hadn’t seen the millionaire in ages. Even trusty butler Alfred was tested to the limits of his patience by Bruce.
As a job seeker, your network is vitally important. These are the people who can point you to great opportunities and help you find hidden gems. You want to cultivate these individuals by keeping in contact and lending them assistance. After all, networking is a two-way street. If you help them, when the time comes they might help you by letting you know of an unposted position at their company you would be perfect for. Just like Batman’s friends were there for him when he needed them, your network can’t be ignored.
Watch Your Online Presence
Catwoman Selina Kyle knows a thing or two about the importance of your online breadtrail. After a life of petty crime and theft, Selina wants a clean slate. That’s easier said than done, however, especially with the Internet cataloging your every move.
You don’t need to be a cat burglar to worry about your online presence. A whopping 92 percent of all employers will check out your online footprint during the hiring process. This means it’s time to take down those kegstand pictures from college and put up a nice professional headshot. Social media can be an important tool in the job hunt when used correctly. Since you can’t wipe the slate clean, put out your own online messages. Upload an impressive video resume or start an industry-specific blog. Use the online space to show employers why they should hire you, instead of why they shouldn’t.
How to Apply for Jobs Safely
By Miriam Salpeter
The majority of job seekers are turning to the Internet to apply for positions, but have you thought about the security risks of entering your personal information—including your full name, Social Security number, address, and work details—online or on paper, and placing it in the hands of a stranger? What can you do to protect your identity?
The first thing you can do to protect yourself is avoid applying for bogus jobs. How? Don't apply to blind ads and unnamed companies or recruiters. If there is no company listed and you cannot confirm there is a real job, consider moving on to another position description.
Be sure you only use reputable job boards. Job-Hunt.org offers a list of criteria to help you evaluate boards. Top tips include making sure you know who owns the job site, Googling the site's name, and identifying who has access to the information you include. There should be a comprehensive privacy policy detailed on the site. If there isn't a policy, assume your information might not be in good hands.
Ken Chaplin, senior vice president of Experian's ProtectMyID, has the following suggestions to keep in mind when you file your online applications:
1. Never provide a Social Security number, or personal information such as date of birth, gender, or race when you apply for a position. Pam Dixon, founder and executive director of the World Privacy Forum, suggests you don't include any personal information such as credit card numbers, bank account numbers, or your mother's maiden name when filling out an online application. (A company that asks for birth date, gender, race, and credit card numbers is probably not legitimate, as reputable employers would not ask for those details.)
If you decide to apply anyway, politely indicate that you'll be happy to provide your Social Security number upon being offered the job. This information is required for payroll and tax purposes, but doesn't need to be in the hands of dozens of potential employers.
One caveat: It's possible an employer may request a Social Security number to conduct credit and background checks before hiring you. Only provide this information once you know the company is legitimate, you have interviewed, and only if you're genuinely interested in working there.
2. If you drop your application off in person, don't just hand your information over to the first employee you see. Make sure you're giving your material to the manager or someone in human resources. It is easy to have your information and resume get lost in the shuffle or fall into the wrong hands.
Tips 3-4 and complete US News Article
The majority of job seekers are turning to the Internet to apply for positions, but have you thought about the security risks of entering your personal information—including your full name, Social Security number, address, and work details—online or on paper, and placing it in the hands of a stranger? What can you do to protect your identity?
The first thing you can do to protect yourself is avoid applying for bogus jobs. How? Don't apply to blind ads and unnamed companies or recruiters. If there is no company listed and you cannot confirm there is a real job, consider moving on to another position description.
Be sure you only use reputable job boards. Job-Hunt.org offers a list of criteria to help you evaluate boards. Top tips include making sure you know who owns the job site, Googling the site's name, and identifying who has access to the information you include. There should be a comprehensive privacy policy detailed on the site. If there isn't a policy, assume your information might not be in good hands.
Ken Chaplin, senior vice president of Experian's ProtectMyID, has the following suggestions to keep in mind when you file your online applications:
1. Never provide a Social Security number, or personal information such as date of birth, gender, or race when you apply for a position. Pam Dixon, founder and executive director of the World Privacy Forum, suggests you don't include any personal information such as credit card numbers, bank account numbers, or your mother's maiden name when filling out an online application. (A company that asks for birth date, gender, race, and credit card numbers is probably not legitimate, as reputable employers would not ask for those details.)
If you decide to apply anyway, politely indicate that you'll be happy to provide your Social Security number upon being offered the job. This information is required for payroll and tax purposes, but doesn't need to be in the hands of dozens of potential employers.
One caveat: It's possible an employer may request a Social Security number to conduct credit and background checks before hiring you. Only provide this information once you know the company is legitimate, you have interviewed, and only if you're genuinely interested in working there.
2. If you drop your application off in person, don't just hand your information over to the first employee you see. Make sure you're giving your material to the manager or someone in human resources. It is easy to have your information and resume get lost in the shuffle or fall into the wrong hands.
Tips 3-4 and complete US News Article
The 20 Best-Paying Jobs For Women In 2012
Jenna Goudreau
Over the past three decades women’s median income has increased 63%, and now more than a third of working wives earn more than their husbands. It’s no surprise when, although they were once discouraged from pursuing higher education, women now surpass men in achievement of bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Across sectors, women continue earning only 82 cents for every dollar earned by men, but more and more they are landing high-paying professional jobs and narrowing the gap. An analysis of the median weekly earnings of full-time American workers in 2011 by occupation and gender, as tracked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, shows the top 20 jobs where women are earning the most. All require some college and most are concentrated in health care, science and technology, and business fields.
At No. 1, pharmacist is the best-paying job for women, where they earn a median of $1,898 a week or approximately $99,000 a year. Women comprise more than half (56%) of all pharmacists and earn nearly as a much as men in the job. Moreover, the field offers more than 10,000 annual openings and is expected to grow 25% by 2020.
“Pharmacy is known for paying very well straight out of school and all the way through your career,” says Katie Bardaro, lead economist at compensation research firm PayScale. “It’s a very good return on investment in terms of money and time spent on education.”
While pharmacists must achieve a four-year professional degree and pass licensing exams, physicians and surgeons attend four years of medical school and complete three to eight years of internship and residency. Yet, for women, doctor comes in as the fourth highest paying job—behind pharmacists, lawyers (No. 2) and computer and information systems managers (No. 3)—with median weekly earnings of $1,527 or about $79,000 a year. They also earn 21% less than male doctors.
Bardaro explains that physicians face a much wider range of specialty and practice type. Men trend toward high-risk, high-paying areas like plastic and brain surgery, she says, while women are more likely to move into lower-paying specialties like general practice and pediatrics.
See all 20 jobs and complete Forbes article
Over the past three decades women’s median income has increased 63%, and now more than a third of working wives earn more than their husbands. It’s no surprise when, although they were once discouraged from pursuing higher education, women now surpass men in achievement of bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Across sectors, women continue earning only 82 cents for every dollar earned by men, but more and more they are landing high-paying professional jobs and narrowing the gap. An analysis of the median weekly earnings of full-time American workers in 2011 by occupation and gender, as tracked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, shows the top 20 jobs where women are earning the most. All require some college and most are concentrated in health care, science and technology, and business fields.
At No. 1, pharmacist is the best-paying job for women, where they earn a median of $1,898 a week or approximately $99,000 a year. Women comprise more than half (56%) of all pharmacists and earn nearly as a much as men in the job. Moreover, the field offers more than 10,000 annual openings and is expected to grow 25% by 2020.
“Pharmacy is known for paying very well straight out of school and all the way through your career,” says Katie Bardaro, lead economist at compensation research firm PayScale. “It’s a very good return on investment in terms of money and time spent on education.”
While pharmacists must achieve a four-year professional degree and pass licensing exams, physicians and surgeons attend four years of medical school and complete three to eight years of internship and residency. Yet, for women, doctor comes in as the fourth highest paying job—behind pharmacists, lawyers (No. 2) and computer and information systems managers (No. 3)—with median weekly earnings of $1,527 or about $79,000 a year. They also earn 21% less than male doctors.
Bardaro explains that physicians face a much wider range of specialty and practice type. Men trend toward high-risk, high-paying areas like plastic and brain surgery, she says, while women are more likely to move into lower-paying specialties like general practice and pediatrics.
See all 20 jobs and complete Forbes article
Olympic Tips You Can Apply to Your Job Search
As I’ve been watching the Olympic trials these last few weeks, I can’t help but notice how these athletes operate. For years they train hard to make the trials in hopes of landing a coveted spot on their country’s team. From their multiple-day training sessions down to their performance uniform, these athletes can teach job seekers a few important tips on how to be the best.
Go for the gold and apply these three champion lessons to your every day job search.
Don Your Uniform
No matter how great you are in scrimmage, there’s just something about putting on that snazzy looking uniform that gives you the extra muscle to clench first. Your head is suddenly fully in the game and you’re ready to play like a star. So when you roll out of bed in the morning to start your job search, shed the flannel PJs and fuzzy slippers. Change into something nice, and you will feel better about yourself and will find it much easier to put your best foot forward. There’s certainly no need to dress up in a manner befitting an interview, but if you avoid lounging around in your sweats all day while you search for jobs, you’ll get out of that lazy mindset and tackle your day with confidence.
Get To Know the Course
Olympic athletes don’t compete without first getting to know the terrain. If they did, they’d be likely to make mistakes that could have easily been purged from their systems had they taken a few practice runs. So when you’re applying to jobs, make sure that you fully research every company you’re interested in – brush up on company history, news mentions, key figures in the firm, etc. – so that if you’re asked about any of these things in an interview you don’t draw a blank. You’ll be a better conversationalist in the interview, and a company will be far more excited to hire someone who knows his or her stuff.
More Tips and Complete Article
Ten Interviewing Rules
By Carole Martin
Monster Contributing Writer
In the current job market, you'd better have your act together, or you won't stand a chance against the competition. Check yourself on these 10 basic points before you go on that all-important interview.
1. Do Your Research
Researching the company before the interview and learning as much as possible about its services, products, customers and competition will give you an edge in understanding and addressing the company's needs. The more you know about the company and what it stands for, the better chance you have of selling yourself in the interview. You also should find out about the company's culture to gain insight into your potential happiness on the job.
2. Look Sharp
Select what to wear to the interview. Depending on the industry and position, get out your best interview clothes and check them over for spots and wrinkles. Even if the company has a casual environment, you don't want to look like you slept in your outfit. Above all, dress for confidence. If you feel good, others will respond to you accordingly.
3. Be Prepared
Bring along a folder containing extra copies of your resume, a copy of your references and paper to take notes. You should also have questions prepared to ask at the end of the interview. For extra assurance, print a copy of Monster's handy interview take-along checklist.
4. Be on Time
Never arrive late to an interview. Allow extra time to arrive early in the vicinity, allowing for factors like getting lost. Enter the building 10 to 15 minutes before the interview.
5. Show Enthusiasm
A firm handshake and plenty of eye contact demonstrate confidence. Speak distinctly in a confident voice, even though you may feel shaky.
Tips 6 - 10 and complete Monster article
Monster Contributing Writer
In the current job market, you'd better have your act together, or you won't stand a chance against the competition. Check yourself on these 10 basic points before you go on that all-important interview.
1. Do Your Research
Researching the company before the interview and learning as much as possible about its services, products, customers and competition will give you an edge in understanding and addressing the company's needs. The more you know about the company and what it stands for, the better chance you have of selling yourself in the interview. You also should find out about the company's culture to gain insight into your potential happiness on the job.
2. Look Sharp
Select what to wear to the interview. Depending on the industry and position, get out your best interview clothes and check them over for spots and wrinkles. Even if the company has a casual environment, you don't want to look like you slept in your outfit. Above all, dress for confidence. If you feel good, others will respond to you accordingly.
3. Be Prepared
Bring along a folder containing extra copies of your resume, a copy of your references and paper to take notes. You should also have questions prepared to ask at the end of the interview. For extra assurance, print a copy of Monster's handy interview take-along checklist.
4. Be on Time
Never arrive late to an interview. Allow extra time to arrive early in the vicinity, allowing for factors like getting lost. Enter the building 10 to 15 minutes before the interview.
5. Show Enthusiasm
A firm handshake and plenty of eye contact demonstrate confidence. Speak distinctly in a confident voice, even though you may feel shaky.
Tips 6 - 10 and complete Monster article
7 Things You Can Do After A Really Bad Job Interview
Jacquelyn Smith
Have you ever left a job interview knowing you completely bombed it? Chances are you have—and you probably dealt with it by beating yourself up and abandoning that opportunity. But walking away from the job or employer with a negative attitude won’t benefit anyone.
“Bad interviews can be very discouraging and cause feelings of inadequacy, shame, frustration, and even depression,” says Dr. Katharine Brooks, director of Liberal Arts Career Services at The University of Texas at Austin and author of You Majored in What? Mapping Your Path from Chaos to Career. “We all like to think of ourselves as successful and when we have an experience that contradicts that image, it can be difficult to recover. Particularly when the interview involves a lot of pressure—the person desperately needs the job—this just makes the bad job interview worse.”
Sylvie Stewart, an assistant director of career services at the University of Dayton, adds, “People tend to spend time wishing they could rewind and do it over. It is very normal to feel negative after a bad interview. As an unemployed job seeker, you are naturally very emotionally raw and vulnerable.”
A ‘bad interview’ can mean a lot of things; the candidate believes retrospectively that he or she flopped on a majority of the questions, he or she didn’t adequately prepare for the interview, the candidate is dressed inappropriately, says something offensive or arrives late, or a personal issue—like a family death or a break-up—distracts the candidate during the interview, among other things.
Brooks says if your talents are extremely valuable to the organization and they really want you, the employer might overlook small mistakes. However, if they’re on the fence about you, or you aren’t in the strongest position vis-à-vis the other candidates, the mistakes might not be fixable. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.
“If the candidate believes the interview went poorly, absent any direct feedback from the employer, he or she could look for redemption,” say Jay Canchola, an HR business partner for Raytheon. It’s always better to make an effort to redeem yourself than to leave the interviewer with a bad taste in their mouth.
“The expression ‘never burn your bridges’ can apply to interviews as well,” Canchola adds. “Because people and circumstances are constantly changing, and if the prospective employer is one that aligns with your individual goals, you should continue to make the best impression possible.” You never know if another great opportunity at that company will present itself in the future.
You can’t rewind and redo the interview—nor can you change the employer’s decision to offer you a job. But there are a few things you can do after a bad job interview to help you avoid such mistakes in the future, to mend the employers impression of you, and, if you’re really lucky, to help them understand and overlook your mistakes.
1. Reflect on the experience.
“I talk to many students who believe they have bombed the interview,” Brooks says. “The first thing I do is ask them what went well. It’s important to discover what went well first so that you’re able to look at the negative aspects with a less defeated attitude. I then ask what one thing they would change.” If you have a bad feeling about the way things panned out, identify exactly what went wrong.
2. Learn from it.
Make a list of the mistakes you made during the interview, learn from them, and do better next time, Stewart says.
“The best thing to do with a bad interview is learn from it,” Brooks adds. Don’t wallow in self-pity or allow the bad interview to be an excuse for not following-up or not interviewing for a while. Instead, ask yourself what you would do differently to prepare next time; figure out what information you should have had that you didn’t; and think about how you would handle a difficult question next time.
3. Learn to forgive yourself.
“This will help you to play better in the game in the future,” Stewart says.
Nothing good ever comes from beating yourself up. It’s natural to feel uneasy for a little while—but don’t let the feeling linger and don’t let it discourage you from reaching out to the employer to make things better. Accept your mistakes and move forward.
Tips 4 - 7 and complete Forbes article
Have you ever left a job interview knowing you completely bombed it? Chances are you have—and you probably dealt with it by beating yourself up and abandoning that opportunity. But walking away from the job or employer with a negative attitude won’t benefit anyone.
“Bad interviews can be very discouraging and cause feelings of inadequacy, shame, frustration, and even depression,” says Dr. Katharine Brooks, director of Liberal Arts Career Services at The University of Texas at Austin and author of You Majored in What? Mapping Your Path from Chaos to Career. “We all like to think of ourselves as successful and when we have an experience that contradicts that image, it can be difficult to recover. Particularly when the interview involves a lot of pressure—the person desperately needs the job—this just makes the bad job interview worse.”
Sylvie Stewart, an assistant director of career services at the University of Dayton, adds, “People tend to spend time wishing they could rewind and do it over. It is very normal to feel negative after a bad interview. As an unemployed job seeker, you are naturally very emotionally raw and vulnerable.”
A ‘bad interview’ can mean a lot of things; the candidate believes retrospectively that he or she flopped on a majority of the questions, he or she didn’t adequately prepare for the interview, the candidate is dressed inappropriately, says something offensive or arrives late, or a personal issue—like a family death or a break-up—distracts the candidate during the interview, among other things.
Brooks says if your talents are extremely valuable to the organization and they really want you, the employer might overlook small mistakes. However, if they’re on the fence about you, or you aren’t in the strongest position vis-à-vis the other candidates, the mistakes might not be fixable. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.
“If the candidate believes the interview went poorly, absent any direct feedback from the employer, he or she could look for redemption,” say Jay Canchola, an HR business partner for Raytheon. It’s always better to make an effort to redeem yourself than to leave the interviewer with a bad taste in their mouth.
“The expression ‘never burn your bridges’ can apply to interviews as well,” Canchola adds. “Because people and circumstances are constantly changing, and if the prospective employer is one that aligns with your individual goals, you should continue to make the best impression possible.” You never know if another great opportunity at that company will present itself in the future.
You can’t rewind and redo the interview—nor can you change the employer’s decision to offer you a job. But there are a few things you can do after a bad job interview to help you avoid such mistakes in the future, to mend the employers impression of you, and, if you’re really lucky, to help them understand and overlook your mistakes.
1. Reflect on the experience.
“I talk to many students who believe they have bombed the interview,” Brooks says. “The first thing I do is ask them what went well. It’s important to discover what went well first so that you’re able to look at the negative aspects with a less defeated attitude. I then ask what one thing they would change.” If you have a bad feeling about the way things panned out, identify exactly what went wrong.
2. Learn from it.
Make a list of the mistakes you made during the interview, learn from them, and do better next time, Stewart says.
“The best thing to do with a bad interview is learn from it,” Brooks adds. Don’t wallow in self-pity or allow the bad interview to be an excuse for not following-up or not interviewing for a while. Instead, ask yourself what you would do differently to prepare next time; figure out what information you should have had that you didn’t; and think about how you would handle a difficult question next time.
3. Learn to forgive yourself.
“This will help you to play better in the game in the future,” Stewart says.
Nothing good ever comes from beating yourself up. It’s natural to feel uneasy for a little while—but don’t let the feeling linger and don’t let it discourage you from reaching out to the employer to make things better. Accept your mistakes and move forward.
Tips 4 - 7 and complete Forbes article
How You Can Beat Computerized Applicant Screenings to Land the Job You Really Want
By Dylan Alford
I stared at the screen for what seemed like an hour.
“Do you have experience marketing software in a business-to-business environment?” the computer asked me.
I knew if I answered “No” to this question, which was the truth, I would probably be automatically excluded as a candidate for this job. No chance of anyone at this company that I desperately wanted to work for even looking at my resume. Forget about getting an interview. And it was a shame, because I knew I could not only do the job they were advertising, but I could excel at it.
But I wasn’t willing to lie. That would be a deal-breaker if I ended up being considered for the position. So, I clicked “No” and completed the rest of the online application.
Five minutes later I opened my email to find an automatically generated rejection message. I was not being considered for the position. And nobody — no human being — had even looked at my application or resume. The software the company used to manage the online application process automatically eliminated me because I answered “No” to that one screening question. Game over.
But software simply can’t do the job as well as a human. It can’t apply judgement and pass along an application from someone who meets nearly all the requirements. Or maybe the problem is whoever creates the screening requirements for these positions sets the bar unreasonably high, with the hopes of narrowing the pool.
A recent article in The Wall Street Journal says hiring managers now pile up so many requirements for jobs that it’s almost impossible to find someone who meets them all. The owner of a temporary staffing company quoted in the article calls it “looking for a unicorn.” He tells of a business he worked with that received 25,000 applicants for an open engineering position only to hear from HR that none were qualified. None! Nobody, out of 25,000?
What I do advocate is building personal connections inside a limited number of target employers. Organizations that are a good fit for you. You need to meet people — either in person, on the phone or online — who work at those companies so if you run into a situation where your application gets weeded out, you know someone who will help you go around the software and reach the hiring manager.
I stared at the screen for what seemed like an hour.
“Do you have experience marketing software in a business-to-business environment?” the computer asked me.
I knew if I answered “No” to this question, which was the truth, I would probably be automatically excluded as a candidate for this job. No chance of anyone at this company that I desperately wanted to work for even looking at my resume. Forget about getting an interview. And it was a shame, because I knew I could not only do the job they were advertising, but I could excel at it.
But I wasn’t willing to lie. That would be a deal-breaker if I ended up being considered for the position. So, I clicked “No” and completed the rest of the online application.
Five minutes later I opened my email to find an automatically generated rejection message. I was not being considered for the position. And nobody — no human being — had even looked at my application or resume. The software the company used to manage the online application process automatically eliminated me because I answered “No” to that one screening question. Game over.
When Software Replaces Recruiters
I understand why companies use this kind of software to screen out “unqualified” applicants. About 13 million people in the U.S. are officially looking for work. And a lot of people apply for jobs willy-nilly, regardless of their experience or skill set. The HR department simply can’t sort through all of the applications.But software simply can’t do the job as well as a human. It can’t apply judgement and pass along an application from someone who meets nearly all the requirements. Or maybe the problem is whoever creates the screening requirements for these positions sets the bar unreasonably high, with the hopes of narrowing the pool.
A recent article in The Wall Street Journal says hiring managers now pile up so many requirements for jobs that it’s almost impossible to find someone who meets them all. The owner of a temporary staffing company quoted in the article calls it “looking for a unicorn.” He tells of a business he worked with that received 25,000 applicants for an open engineering position only to hear from HR that none were qualified. None! Nobody, out of 25,000?
Connections are Key
But here’s the thing. If you really want a particular position, getting weeded out by the screening software should never stop you from going after it. I don’t advocate lying. I don’t advocate spending a lot of time trying to game the system.What I do advocate is building personal connections inside a limited number of target employers. Organizations that are a good fit for you. You need to meet people — either in person, on the phone or online — who work at those companies so if you run into a situation where your application gets weeded out, you know someone who will help you go around the software and reach the hiring manager.
How I Beat The Software - find out how and read the rest of the BrazenCareerist article
Build Your Brand Before Starting A Job Search
by
I met Debbie on Twitter @DebbieLaskeyMBA She wrote this wonderful post that will help you build your job search brand. She offers great advice. I now give you Debbie Laskey.
Build Your Brand before Starting a Job Search
If you no longer feel challenged by your current job or just want to make a change, you should feel inspired to look for a new opportunity. Give your two week or four week notice, make sure to leave project instructions for your replacement or supervisor, and you may think you’re ready to move on. But wait, before you throw your hat into the job search pool, you need to build your personal brand.
In the words of David McNally and Karl D. Speak, “Everyone has a brand, and anyone can be a strong brand. It doesn’t involve changing your personality – you can be an introvert or extrovert…A personal brand is a perception or emotion, maintained by somebody other than you, that describes your outstanding qualities and influences that person’s relationship with you.”
Thanks to social media, you have all the tools necessary to define your brand, pitch yourself as an expert in your field, and become the best candidate available. Here are my “Top Five” tips for building your personal brand:
[1] Determine what you want your brand to be called – it may be your full name or it may be a portion of your first or last name with your specialty included, but whatever you choose, always be consistent in using this brand name on all social media sites (Hint: you can check if your chosen brand name is available on hundreds of sites with http://knowem.com)
[2] Create a mission statement to clarify your professional goals and keep a list of your key strengths and accomplishments up-to-date
[3] Establish a professional profile on LinkedIn: a good profile includes a professional photo, titles of previous and current positions with overviews of your responsibilities and highlights of accomplishments for each position, recommendations from supervisors and co-workers, degrees, certificates, list of key skills, groups, applications, etc.
Tips 4 - 5 and complete HireFriday article
GUEST POST BY DEBBIE LASKEY, MBA
Debbie Laskey has 15 years of marketing experience and an MBA Degree. She developed her marketing expertise while working in the high-tech industry, the Consumer Marketing Department at Disneyland Paris in France, the non-profit arena, and the insurance industry. Currently, Debbie is a brand marketing, social media, and employee engagement consultant to small businesses, start-ups, and non-profits in California. Recognized as a “Woman Making a Difference” by the Los Angeles Business Journal, Debbie has served as a judge for the Web Marketing Association’s annual web award competition since 2002. Follow Debbie on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/DebbieLaskeyMBA) and on her Blog (http://debbielaskey.blogspot
I met Debbie on Twitter @DebbieLaskeyMBA She wrote this wonderful post that will help you build your job search brand. She offers great advice. I now give you Debbie Laskey.
Build Your Brand before Starting a Job Search
If you no longer feel challenged by your current job or just want to make a change, you should feel inspired to look for a new opportunity. Give your two week or four week notice, make sure to leave project instructions for your replacement or supervisor, and you may think you’re ready to move on. But wait, before you throw your hat into the job search pool, you need to build your personal brand.
In the words of David McNally and Karl D. Speak, “Everyone has a brand, and anyone can be a strong brand. It doesn’t involve changing your personality – you can be an introvert or extrovert…A personal brand is a perception or emotion, maintained by somebody other than you, that describes your outstanding qualities and influences that person’s relationship with you.”
Thanks to social media, you have all the tools necessary to define your brand, pitch yourself as an expert in your field, and become the best candidate available. Here are my “Top Five” tips for building your personal brand:
[1] Determine what you want your brand to be called – it may be your full name or it may be a portion of your first or last name with your specialty included, but whatever you choose, always be consistent in using this brand name on all social media sites (Hint: you can check if your chosen brand name is available on hundreds of sites with http://knowem.com)
[2] Create a mission statement to clarify your professional goals and keep a list of your key strengths and accomplishments up-to-date
[3] Establish a professional profile on LinkedIn: a good profile includes a professional photo, titles of previous and current positions with overviews of your responsibilities and highlights of accomplishments for each position, recommendations from supervisors and co-workers, degrees, certificates, list of key skills, groups, applications, etc.
Tips 4 - 5 and complete HireFriday article
GUEST POST BY DEBBIE LASKEY, MBA
Debbie Laskey has 15 years of marketing experience and an MBA Degree. She developed her marketing expertise while working in the high-tech industry, the Consumer Marketing Department at Disneyland Paris in France, the non-profit arena, and the insurance industry. Currently, Debbie is a brand marketing, social media, and employee engagement consultant to small businesses, start-ups, and non-profits in California. Recognized as a “Woman Making a Difference” by the Los Angeles Business Journal, Debbie has served as a judge for the Web Marketing Association’s annual web award competition since 2002. Follow Debbie on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/DebbieLaskeyMBA) and on her Blog (http://debbielaskey.blogspot
25 Professionals Share Their Best Career Advice
Vivian Giang
The workplace is constantly changing and to make sure you're on your way down the preferred career path, it's a good idea to take the advice of success stories that came before you.
If someone's already been where you are, and telling you the best shortcuts to take, why not listen?
Our friends over at eVenues blog compiled some of the best career advice from meetings and events industry leaders, which they shared with us.
If someone's already been where you are, and telling you the best shortcuts to take, why not listen?
Our friends over at eVenues blog compiled some of the best career advice from meetings and events industry leaders, which they shared with us.
Doreen Ashton Wagner, Managing Director at Greenfield Services
"Be CLEAR on what YOU want. Some of it is regular stuff: salary, the hours, how much travel, how much advancement potential. But also less obvious stuff: how much autonomy to make decisions, what motivates you to get up everyday, what kind of people you like to work with, what you're NOT WILLING to compromise."
Source: eVenues Blog
Source: eVenues Blog
Dawn Penfold, President at Meetingjobs
"Everyone tells you that you should do what you love. Sounds good in a blog or on a poster. It isn’t necessarily realistic or possible. Enjoying your work, being valued in your industry and community, and making money makes sense. Bottom line, keep a realistic outlook on your career."
Source: eVenues Blog
Source: eVenues Blog
Randall Whatley, President at Cypress Media Group
"At first you will be the youngest person in the room and think you are much smarter than the old ones. At the end you will be the oldest person in the room and think you are much smarter than the young ones. If you do this, you will have been wrong both times."
Source: eVenues Blog
Source: eVenues Blog
Michelle Bergstein Fontanez, Marketing Maven Event Industry Marketing by BeatCreative
"Stick with what you do best and become a master at it and never over-promise. Your stellar work can act as the over promise without mention. The pitfalls of over promising is most likely you will under deliver, not intentionally, but because you promised more. You can't control the unexpected and the unexpected usually happens when you over promise.
Be clear, upfront and honest in your communication. If you can't meet a deadline communicate that. Accountability goes a long way! Life happens and its best to admit fault, we are all human, better to be approachable and real about any situation, no matter how much you may fear that phone call, or conversation, the burden that gets lifted alleviates so much stress you wouldn't believe! You'll thank me later!"
Source: eVenues Blog
Be clear, upfront and honest in your communication. If you can't meet a deadline communicate that. Accountability goes a long way! Life happens and its best to admit fault, we are all human, better to be approachable and real about any situation, no matter how much you may fear that phone call, or conversation, the burden that gets lifted alleviates so much stress you wouldn't believe! You'll thank me later!"
Source: eVenues Blog
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